Machine for forming feed pellets



April 20, 1954 A. c. HELM 2,675,768

MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS Filed May 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS April 20, 1954 A. c. HELM 2,675,768

MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS Filed May 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oooobo ATTO R N EYS April 1954 A. c. HELM 2,675,768

' MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS Filed May 8, 1950 5- Sheets-Sheet 5 A llison 63 He/m ATTOR N EYS awe/whom April 20, 1954 A. c. HELM 2,675,768

MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS Filed May 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORN EYS April 20, 1954 Filed May 8, 1950 Y MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS ,.7IIIIIJI4 I A. c. HELM 2,675,768

5 Sheets-Sheet 5- r I III/II /3 v 32 3/ 33 All/sonC He/m Patented Apr. 20,1954

UNITED S'IA'I'ES OFFICE MACHINE FOR FORMING FEED PELLETS Allison C..Helm, Fort Worth, Tex.

AppIication'May'S, 1950,'Seria'l No. 160,626

Claims. 1

This invention relates to new "and useful -improvements in machines for forming feed 'p'eiiets.

Oneobject of the invention is "to provide an improved machine for iorming livestock and poultry feed ipellets whereby the pellets -will "be of uniform length to facilitate handling and feeding'of the *same and will be thoroughly cured so as to prevent swelling and disintegration thereof.

A-particular-objectnf the invention is to provide an improved feed pellet forming machine which includes a pair of enacting "circular dies having apertured peripheral walls and adaptedto he rotated about their respective axes "with their peripheries in constant rolling contact whereby feed dire'ctedbetween the 'dies is forced into the peripheral apertures and compressed there into pellets.

An important object oi'the invention is to provide an improved pellet forming machine, or the character describedwherein the dies :are annular and of adiam'eter and width sufilcient to have 'a multiplicity of openings whereby the pellets remain in the openings 'a prolonged periodof time to assure thorough'curing "of said-pellets and prevent swelling and-disintegration thereof upon being extruded from 'said openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pellet forming machine, -or" the character described, having an improved knife mounted in engagement with the inner peripheral surface of each die "between the openings thereof and adapted to rotate with the die, the knife being arranged to be held stationary "during one-complete revolution of 'said "die-at predetermined intervals so as to-cut off the pellets flush with said inner peripheral surface and assure uniform length of said pellets.

A further object 'of the invention is to provide an improved pelletforming machine, of the character described, wherein its diesare supported by eccentric bearing means to permit fine adjustment of the-'diesrelative to eachother for obtaining rolling "contact of said dies without binding thereof and for maintaining such contact upon wear of the dies.

Still another object of "the invention is to provide an improved pellet forming machine, of the character described, which is so "constructed that the feed is prevented from contacting the hearings or the machine whereby the usual abrasive wear of said bearings is eliminated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will "be hereinafter described together with other featiu'es of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the specification'and by reference'to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a pellet forming machine constructed "in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with a portionoi its housing in section to show the relation of the pellet forming dies,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, showing one of the die shaftsa-nditsdrive-gear,

Fig. 4 is an endelevation viewypartly in section, of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, showing one of the dies, its knife and deflector,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section-of one of the eccentric bearings for permitting adjustment of the-shaftsan'd dies,

Fig. '7 is a perspective View, partly in section, of one of the dies,

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view, partly in sec-- tion, showing the relation of the gear drive,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view-taken on the line @-'9 of Fig. 5, showing the frictional connection of the knifearm to its'die,

-Fig. 10 is-an-enlarged, sectional view-of the con tacting portions of the dies, showing the relation of their openings,

Fig. '11 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken on the lin ii1l'of Fig. i,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the relationof the feederguide plates to the dies, and

Fig. 13 is anelevational view, partly in section, showing one of the drive gears-and its connection to the die shaft.

In the drawings, the numeral it designates a pellet forming machine which includes an upright gear case ii having a die housing or cover I? connected thereto and mounted upon --'a heavy base plate S3. A pair of annular or circular,

- rotatable dies M are mounted above the base bearings It in fixed relations, a turnbuckle 21] is pivotally connected to and 'between -said b'earings. It is noted that the peripheraliaces"of'the Similar bearings dies i i are in rolling contact and have appreciable width so as to define a trough or space thereabove and therebetween which is substantially triangular in cross-section. An opening 2| is provided in the top of the housing i2, which substantially conforms to the contour of the dies, above this space for receiving feed in loose granular or meal form from a feeder 22. The feed is directed through the opening 2! by a pair of spaced, vertically-adjustable guide plates 23 depending from the feeder 22 into said opening and having their lower ends conforming to the dies (Figs. 11 and 12). Axially-extending, annular flanges 24 are formed on the ends or margins of the dies and are engaged by sealing elements 25 of rubber or other elastic material carried by the lower ends of the guide plates 23, whereby the feed is confined in the space between the peripheral faces of said dies. The pellets formed by the dies drop onto an endless conveyor or drag belt 26 extending horizontally below said dies and mounted upon suitable pulleys 21. Although not illustrated, the housing is adapted to be supported by the gear case II and is preferably made in sections to facilitate removal.

A drive shaft 28, having a drive pulley 29 mounted on its outer end and gear teeth 3!) formed on its inner end, extends transversely into the gear case as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The gear teeth 33 are in constant mesh with a large gear 3i mounted on a shaft 32 which is parallel to the drive shaft 28 and carries a pinion 33. A pair of meshing large gears 34 are rotatably mounted on the rear portions of the shafts l and one of these gears is in constant mesh with the pinion 33, whereby one of said gears drives the other. The drive shaft is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8) so as to turn the shaft 32 in an opposite or counterclockwise direction. Thus, the left-hand shaft I5 is rotated clockwise and the right-hand shaft counter-clockwise, whereby the dies mounted on said shafts turn inwardly and downwardly toward each other. A pair of bearings 35 are mounted in the front wall of the gear case to rotatably support the gears 3 For connecting each gear to its shaft, a radial crank arm 36 is keyed on each die shaft and has a pin 31 rotatably mounted in its outer end so as to extend parallel to the axis of the shaft as shown in Figs. 3 and 13. The end of the pin adjacent the gear has a square head 38 which is slidably confined between a pair of substantially radial, parallel ribs 39 formed on the side of said gear. Due to this slidable connection, rotation of the gears is imparted to the die shafts.

To permit adjustment of the dies relative to each other upon installation as well as upon wear of their peripheral faces, the shafts i 5 are eccentrically mounted in the bearings 56, I9 and 35. All of the eccentric bearings are similar and since the bearings it and is are substantially identical, said bearings it are not shown nor described in detail. As shown in Fig. 3, each bearing l9 includes a flanged collar it clamped in position by lock rings 4i screw-threaded upon its free outer end and having an eccentric bore 42. A roller bearing assembly as is confined in the bore 42 for rotatably supporting the shaft in the collar 4% which has its outer end sealed by a suitable stuffing box i l. The shaft projects beyond the collar and has an adjusting angst keyed to its outer end so as to be slidable toward said collar. Inwardly-directed lugs 46 are formed on the ring 45 for engaging recesses or slots 4? formed in the outer end of the collar and connecting said collar to the shaft when said ring is slid toward said collar. Upon loosening of the lock rings and engagement of the lugs 45 with the recesses M, the collar may be rotated by turning the shaft to vary the position of the eccentric bore 42 of said collar. Each bearing 35 includes a similar collar or sleeve is clamped in position by similar lock rings 59 and having a similar eccentric bore 56 with roller bearing assemblies 5! confined therein for rotatably supporting the shaft (Fig. 6). A stuffing box 52 packs oif the outer end of the collar 48 which has slots or recesses 53 formed therein for receiving the in wardly-directed lugs 56 of an adjusting ring 55 keyed on a spacer collar 55 which in turn is keyed to the shaft. The gear 34 is rotatably mounted on the collar 48 by a pair of roller bearing assemblies 55. Manifestly, either one or both of the dies it may be adjusted by means of the eccentric bearings which permit adjustment of the shafts relative to their gears 34, the gear case and the die housing.

As has been explained, each die is annular and has axially-extending flanges 2% formed on its ends for coacting with the guide plates 23 and their sealing elements 25. A circular drum 56, having an axial hub 5'1 and an annular, peripheral flange is mounted on each shaft rearwardly of the die for supporting said die (Fig. 3). The flange 56 of the drum engages within the rear flange 2d of the die and has an external, radial shoulder or rib 53 adjacent its outer margin overlying and bolted or otherwise secured to the end of said die flange. A crosshead $5 is keyed to the shaft rearwardly of the drum 5% and has its ends secured to the rear surface of said drum by suitable shear pins 58" for connecting the die to the shaft. Manifestly, the provision of the shear pins 6t prevent damaging of the dies by foreign material which might be present in the feed. Each die has a relatively thick body or wall ii! in which a multiplicity of radial openings 82 are formed in equally-spaced relation (Fig. '7). The external peripheral surface of the body Si is suitably machined to provide the die face. It is noted that the width of the body is sufficient to accommodate a number of the openings 62 which are pref erably arranged in transverse and circumferential, parallel rows. As shown by the numeral 63 (Figs. 5 and 10) the outer ends of the die openings are enlarged and taper inwardly. To assure compressing of the feed, the openings of one die are preferably offset relative to the openings of the other die by rotatable adjustment of the dies. Thus, the openings have their outer ends closed by the blank spaces on the peripheral face of the other die between its openings.

A cover plate as is bolted or otherwise secured to the front flange 2d of each die for supporting and closing the front end of the die and has an annular flange or shoulder 65 formed on its rear surface for engaging within said die flange (Fig. 5). The plate 6 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft is by a bearing 68 which includes a concentric sleeve 6? journaled upon said shaft by ball bearing assemblies 65 and 69. An outer ball bearing assembly is is interposed between the plate 64 and the sleeve til. It is noted that the bearing assembly 58 is mounted on the hub 51 of the drum, while the assembly 69 is mounted on the shaft. Due to this arrangement, it is readily apparent that the die and its front plate may rotate with the shaft relative to the sleeve.

For "cutting off the pellets extruded from the die openings, a knife or breaker har in the form'of an-elongate, straight :bladeextends transversely .of each die and is held in engagement with the inner peripheral surface-of the die icy a'pairof arms 72 and IEprojecting-radially from the end portions of the sleeve 5 As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the front arm 7.3 is angular and has its inner end offset rear-wardl-y so as to clear the cover plate fi l and its bearing assembly l0. Normally, the knife 11 is inoperative and rotates with the die. In order to releasably-connect the knife to the die and hold said knife in a relatively fixed position between ad-jacenttr-ansverse rows of the openings d2, thesleeve projects forwardly of the plate 6 1 and has a radial arm or lever on its outer end. A spring-pressed hall or detent 15 is carried by the lever l t :for engaging .a complementary recess lt formed in the plate (:Fig. 9'). Thus, the knife is fr-icti'onally latched to the die and rotates therewith so long as theball 15 is engaged with its recess. For operating the knives, an upright, actuating elementor rod Ti is slidably mounted in a guide collar 18 carried by the bracket 58. As shown in Fig. 1, the actuating rod H is substantially Y-shaped and has a pair of outwardly-inclined arms 19 at its upper end for coacting with the levers l4. Acam wheel 83 is mounted on-a transverse shaft 3 5, which is suitably driven, below the actuating rod and a roller E32 carried by the lower end of said rod rides upon its periphery. The :cam wheel t?! is adapted to be rotated slowly or at predetermined intervals to operate the knives intermittently. Upon engagement of the lobe of the .cam wheel with the roller .82, the actuating rod is raised so as to engage .its arms 18 with the levers M and prevent rotation of the knives. Due to the frictional latch provided by each lever It, its spring-pressed ball it and the coacting recess fit, the sleeves and the knives are readily disconnected from their dies. Therefore, upon continued rotation .of the dies, the pellets extruded from the openings 52 are engaged by the knives .so :as to be out .or broken off substantially flush with the inner peripheral surfaces of said dies. It is noted that the knives are .adapted to be held stationary only during one complete revolution of the dies and that the engagement of the balls 15 with their recesses 7H3 again latches the sleeves and .knives to their dies. Thus, the knives rotate with the dies until the actuating rod is raised again by one of the :cam lobes engaging its roller E82. Manifestly, pellets of the .desired uniform length may be formed due to this arrangement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the interior of each drum 56 communicates with the rear end of its die and serves as a hopper for receiving pellets therefrom. An opening '83 is provided in the peripheral flange 58 of the drum to discharge the pellets onto the conveyor 28 which carries the same to the chute ii. In order to direct the pellets from the die into the hopper formed by the drum, an annular, inclined deflector or cantboard 83 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve Bl within said die. The inclination of the deflector 84 is rearwardly and downwardly from the front to the rear of the die so as to catch the cut pellets and direct the same rearwardly into the drum. A suitable weight 555 is mounted on the lower underside of the deflector to maintain the same in the angular relation shown. Since the deflector is stationary, it is essential d that its perimeter be spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the rotating die sufficiently to clear the knife and the extruded pellets projecting from the openings of said die.

As has been explained, the feed in meal or other loose form is delivered to the trough between the peripheral faces of thedies M from the feeder 22 .and is-confined by the guide plates 23 which-engage the marginal flanges 2d of said-dies. The rotation of the dies toward each other forces the feed into the openings 552 so as to compress the same into cylindrical or pellet form. When the openings of onedie are offset relative to the other die as shown in Fig. 10, thorough compacting-of the pellets is assured. Due'to the use of a pair =01 coacti-ng dies of relatively large diameter and width, the 'numberof die openings is greatly increased so as to "make possible a fast and eflicien't rate of production without sacrificing the quality of the pellets. In fact, the rotation of the dies is preferably relatively slow soas toprevent overloading of the machine. The large number of die openings permits the pellets to remain in said openings a prolonged period of time so as to assure curing thereof and prevent undue swelling upon extrusion. Since the forming operation is of extended duration, ta-per 63 of the die openings need not be "great and minimum-poweris required'to'perform said'formin-g operation. The intermittentactuation-of the knives H assures substantially uniform length of the pellets which are directed into the drums '56 by the-defiectorst t. From the drums, the pellets fall through the openings at and onto the conveyor 2-6 so as to be conducted to "the discharge chute 2-5. Since the knives normally rotate with the dies and are disposed between the adjacent rows-cf openings, the 88111161210 not interfere with the forming operation.

The eccentric bearings it, it and 35 permit initial-adjustment-of the shafts it as well as subsequent adjustment upon wear of the die faces, whereby-constant rolling contact of said faces is assured. Since the "bearings are exposed, the same may be readily adjusted whenever desired. The front ends of the shafts are held in fixed relation by the turnbuckle 28 which be loosened to facilitate removal thereof. Due to the sliding connection provided between each shaft and its gear Why the crank arm '38, its pin 37 and the ribs 39, the adjustment of the dies and shafts does not affect the gear drive. it is noted that any suitable material or mixture of materials :may be used in the feed. Also, a greater percentage of molasses may be empioyed and need not be dehydrated. This is due to the fact thata minimum of working parts are exposed .to the feed. The hearings i9 and are spaced from the dies and are protected by the-gear-case, while the hearings it can be contacted only by the compressed pellets. Only the top of the die housing ii, the guide plates 23 and the dies are exposed to the feed and the exposure of said housing top is restricted to the margins of the opening 2!. Manifestly, this arrangement permits rapid cleaning of the machine so as to reduce loss of productive time to a minimum.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

l. A machine for forming feed pellets including, a pair of parallel shafts, a circular die mounted on each shaft and having an annular body, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions to turn the dies in opposite directions, die faces formed on the external peripheries of the bodies in rolling contact with each other, a multiplicity of radial openings extending through the die faces and bodies, means for directing feed between said die faces whereby the feed is forced into the openings and extruded from the inner ends thereof in compressed pellets, a knife mounted in each die on its shaft in engagement with the inner periphery of its body, frictional means releasably connecting each knife to its die whereby the knives rotate with their dies, and means engageable with the frictional connecting means for holding said knives stationary during rotation of said dies to cut off pellets flush with said body inner periphery.

2. A machine for forming feed pellets including, a pair of parallel shafts, a circular die mounted on each shaft and having an annular body, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions to turn the di s in opposite directions, die faces formed on the external peripheries of the bodies in rolling contact with each other, a multiplicity of radial openings extending through the die faces and bodies, means for directing feed between said die faces whereby the feed is forced into the openings and extruded from the inner ends thereof in compressed pellets, severing means mounted upon each shaft in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of each die, means for optionally holding said severing means in a fixed relationship with respect to the rotation of each die, hopper means mounted on each shaft so as to be rotatable with its die and communicate with the interior of said die for receiving pellets therefrom and discharging the same, and deflecting means mounted on and rotatable with each shaft in each die for directing pellets into the hopper means.

3. A feed pellet forming machine including, a pair of parallel shafts, an annular die mounted on each shaft and having a plurality of radial apertures, gear means for driving the shafts and dies in opposite directions, the dies having their peripheral surfaces in rolling contact whereby feed directed between the surfaces is forced into the apertures and extruded from the inner ends thereof in compressed pellets, a knife journaled upon each shaft in engagement with the inner peripheral surface of each die, a latch arm extending between the knife and die and having positive connection with one and frictional connection with the other whereby said knife is rotatable with said die, and an actuating element engageable with the arm for releasing its frictional connection and holding said knife station ary to cut off pellets flush with said inner peripheral surface.

4. A feed pellet forming machine including, a pair of parallel horizontally-alined shafts, a drum mounted on each shaft, an annular die supported on each shaft by its drum and having a plurality of radial apertures, meshing drive gears for rotating the shafts, drums and dies in opposite directions, the dies having their peripheral surfaces in rolling contact for receiving feed therebetween and forcing the same into the apertures whereby the feed is compressed and extruded from the inner ends of said apertures, a knife mounted on each shaft in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of each die and releasably connected to the die so as to be rotatable therewith, intermittently-actuated means for disconnecting the knife from its die and holding said knife stationary to out ofi the extruded compressed feed flush with said inner peripheral surface, the interiors of the drums communicating with the interiors of said dies for receiving said compressed feed therefrom, and an annular deflector mounted in each die for directing said compressed feed into its drum, said drums having discharge openings in their peripheries.

5. A feed pellet forming machine including, a pair of parallel shafts, a drum mounted on each shaft, an annular die supported on each shaft by its drum and having a plurality of radial apertures, meshing drive gears for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, the dies having their peripheral surfaces in rotating contact for receiving feed therebetween and forcing the same into the apertures whereby the feed is compressed and extruded from the inner ends of said apertures, a knife journaled upon each shaft in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of its die, means holding each knife stationary to cut off the extruded compressed feed, the interior of each drum communicating with the interior of its die for receiving the compressed feed therefrom, and an annular deflector mounted on and rotatable with each shaft in its die for directing the compressed feed into its drum, each drum having a peripheral discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,127,925 Schueller Feb, 9, 1915 1,909,228 Sizer May 16, 1933 2,052,449 Connell Aug. 25, 1936 2,167,900 Meakin Aug. 1, 1939 2,186,415 Haworth Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 343,749 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1931 

